Ferroelectric memory device

ABSTRACT

A ferroelectric memory device, in which wordlines and bitlines are hierarchized and influence of disturbance-noise is reduced, includes: first sub-wordline select switches, each of which are disposed between one of the main-wordlines and one end of one of the sub-wordlines provided for the one main-wordline; first sub-bitline select switches, each of which are disposed between one of the main-bitlines and one end of one of the sub-bitlines provided for the one main-bitline; second sub-wordline select switches, each of which are disposed between the other end of one of the sub-wordlines and the unselected wordline potential supply line; and second sub-bitline select switches, each of which are disposed between the other end of one of the sub-bitlines and the unselected bitline potential supply line, each of the first and second sub-wordline select switches and first and second sub-bitline select switches being driven independently at least in one of the sector regions.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-110400, filed on Apr. 15, 2003, ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory device.

As a ferroelectric memory device, an active ferroelectric memory deviceincluding a 1T/1C cell in which one transistor and one capacitor(ferroelectric) are disposed in each memory cell, or including a 2T/2Ccell in which a reference cell is further disposed in each memory cell,has been known.

However, since the active ferroelectric memory device has a large memoryarea in comparison with a flash memory or EEPROM, which is known as anonvolatile memory device in which a memory cell is formed by oneelement, the capacity cannot be increased.

A ferroelectric memory device in which each memory cell is formed by oneferroelectric capacitor is known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-openNo. 9-116107). Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-116107discloses hierarchization of a bitline. Specifically, a plurality ofsub-bitlines through a plurality of connection means are provided forone main-bitline. When one of the connection means is turned on, onemain-bitline can be connected with one sub-bitline selected by turningon the connection means. This prevents voltage from being applied to theunselected memory cells connected with other sub-bitlines, whereby thenumber of disturbances applied to the unselected memory cells can belimited.

However, the sub-bitline connected with the connection means that hasbeen turned off floats. The interconnect potential changes if noise isapplied from the outside, whereby data stored in the ferroelectriccapacitor connected with the sub-bitline may be destroyed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-235648 discloses aferroelectric memory device which includes a plurality of sectorsdivided in units of sub-bitlines and in which each sector is furtherdivided into a plurality of sub-sectors. The sector selected from amongthe plurality of sectors (selected sector) is divided into a selectedsub-sector and an unselected sub-sector. In the selected sector, thesub-bitlines do not float in both the selected sub-sector and theunselected sub-sector.

However, the potential of the sub-bitline is in a floating state in allthe unselected sub-sectors in the unselected sector.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A ferroelectric memory device that is less affected by noise may beprovided without making sub-bitlines and/or sub-wordlines connected toan unselected memory cell float while hierarchizing wordlines and/orbitlines.

A ferroelectric memory device according to one aspect of the presentinvention includes a memory cell array region divided into a pluralityof sector regions in row and column directions. Wordlines and bitlinesare hierarchized in this memory cell array regions In other words, theferroelectric memory device includes: a plurality of main-wordlinesdisposed in the memory cell array region in parallel along the rowdirection; a plurality of main-bitlines disposed in the memory cellarray region in parallel along the column direction; a plurality ofsub-wordlines, each of the sub-wordlines being provided for one of themain-wordlines in one of the sector regions; a plurality ofsub-bitlines, each of the sub-bitlines being provided for one of themain-bitlines in one of the sector regions; and a plurality offerroelectric memory cells, each of the ferroelectric memory cells beingdisposed at an intersecting point of one of the sub-wordlines providedfor one of the main-wordlines and one of the sub-bitlines provided forone of the main-bitlines.

This ferroelectric memory device further includes: a plurality of firstsub-wordline select switches, each of the first sub-wordline selectswitches being disposed between one of the main-wordlines and one end ofone of the sub-wordlines provided for the one main-wordline and beingdriven independently at least in one of the sector regions; and aplurality of first sub-bitline select switches, each of the fistsub-bitline select switches being disposed between one of themain-bitlines and one end of one of the sub-bitlines provided for theone main-bitline and being driven independently at least in one of thesector regions.

This ferroelectric memory device further includes: at least oneunselected wordline potential supply line which supplies an unselectedwordline potential to the sub-wordlines; at least one unselected bitlinepotential supply line which supplies an unselected bitline potential tothe sub-bitlines; a plurality of second sub-wordline select switches,each of the second sub-wordline select switches being disposed betweenthe other end of one of the sub-wordlines and the unselected wordlinepotential supply line and being driven independently at least in one ofthe sector regions; and a plurality of second sub-bitline selectswitches, each of the second sub-bitline select switches being disposedbetween the other end of one of the sub-bitlines and the unselectedbitline potential supply line and being driven independently at least inone of the sector regions.

Since the wordlines and tile bitlines are hierarchized, parasiticcapacitance of the wordlines and the bitlines is reduced during thedrive period, whereby a read voltage can be increased. Moreover, thesub-wordlines and the sub-bitlines can be prevented from floating bycomplementarily driving the switches provided on both ends of thesub-wordline and the sub-bitline. Since these switches can be drivenindependently, a selected wordline potential and a selected bitlinepotential can be supplied to only a sub-wordline and a sub-bitlineconnected with the selected memory cell.

This ferroelectric memory device may further include: a plurality offirst sector select sections, each of the first sector select sectionsbeing provided for the sector regions arranged along the columndirection; and a plurality of second sector select sections, each of thesecond sector select sections being provided for the sector regionsarranged along the row direction. In this case, when a selected firstsector select section is selected from among the plurality of firstsector select sections and a selected second sector select section isselected from among the plurality of second sector select sections, theselected first sector select section and the selected second sectorselect section may turn on and turn off the first and secondsub-wordline select switches and the first and second sub-bitline selectswitches so that a select voltage is applied to a selected memory cellin a selected sector region through one of the main-wordlines and one ofthe main-bitlines, and may turn on and turn off the first and secondsub-wordline select switches and the first and second sub-bitline selectswitches so that an unselect voltage is applied to an unselected memorycell in the selected sector region through at least one of theunselected wordline potential supply line and the unselected bitlinepotential supply line, the selected memory cell and the un selectedmemory cell being memory cells among the plurality of the ferroelectricmemory cells, and the selected sector region being selected from amongthe plurality of the sector regions.

More specifically, the selected first sector select section may turn onone of the first sub-wordline select switches that is connected with oneof the sub-wordlines provided for the selected memory cell and may turnoff rest of the first sub-wordline select switches in the selectedsector region, and may turn on one of the second sub-wordline selectswitches that is connected with one of the sub-wordlines provided forthe selected memory cell and may turn off rest of the secondsub-wordline select switches in the selected sector region. The selectedsecond sector select section may turn on one of the first sub-bitlineselect switches that is connected with one of the sub-bitlines providedfor the selected memory cell and may turn off rest of the firstsub-bitline select switches in the selected sector region, and may turnon one of the second sub-bitline select switches that is connected withone of the sub-bitlines provided for the selected memory cell and mayturn off rest of the second sub-bitline select switches in the selectedsector region.

One of the first sector select sections provided for an unselectedsector region that shares one of the main-wordlines with the selectedsector region may turn off the first sub-wordline select switches andmay turn on the second sub-wordline select switches, the unselectedsector region being a sector region other than the selected sectorregions among the plurality of the sector regions. This prevents theselected wordline potential supplied to the main-wordline from beingsupplied to the unselected sector region, whereby the unselectedwordline potential can be supplied.

One of the second sector select sections provided for an unselectedsector region that shares one of the main-bitlines with the selectedsector region may turn off the first sub-bitline select switches and mayturn on the second sub-bitline select switches, the unselected sectorregion being a sector region other than the selected sector regionsamong the plurality of the sector regions. This prevents the selectedbitline potential supplied to the main-bitline from being supplied tothe unselected sector region, whereby the unselected bitline potentialcan be supplied.

The first sector select section provided for an unselected sector regionthat does not share one of the main-wordlines and one of themain-bitlines with the selected sector region may turn off the firstsub-wordline select switches and may turn on the second sub-wordlineselect switches, the unselected sector region being a sector regionother than the selected sector region among the plurality of sectorregions. The second sector select section provided for an unselectedsector region that does not share one of the main-wordlines and one ofthe main-bitlines with the selected sector region may turn off the firstsub-bitline select switches and may turn on the second sub-bitlineselect switches, the unselected sector region being a sector regionother tan the selected sector region among the plurality of sectorregions. This enables only the unselected wordline potential and theunselected bitline potential to be supplied to the unselected sectorregion.

In any of the above aspects, if potentials of the sub-wordlines and thesub-bitlines connected with all of the unselected memory cells in theunselected sector region are substantially the same, 0 V can be appliedto all of the unselected memory cells in the unselected sector, wherebyoccurrence of disturbance can be prevented.

During a standby period in which none of the sector regions areselected, the first sub-bitline select switches and the firstsub-wordline select switches may be turned off, and the secondsub-bitline select switches and the second sub-wordline select switchesmay be turned on in all of the sector regions. If potentials of theunselected wordline potential supply line and the unselected bitlinepotential supply line are substantially the same during the standbyperiod, a disturbance voltage can be prevented from being applied to thememory cells during the standby period.

During an inspection period, the first sub-bitline select switches andthe first sub-wordline select switches may be turned on, and the secondsub-bitline select switches and the second sub-wordline select switchesmay be turned off in a sector region that is a target of inspectionamong the plurality of the sector regions. This enables “0” or “1” to besimultaneously written into all of the memory cells in the sectorregion.

The first sub-bitline select switches, the first sub-wordline selectswitches, the second sub-bitline select switches, and the secondsub-wordline select switches may be turned off in a defective sectorregion among the plurality of the sector regions. This causes thedefective sector region to be in a high impedance state, wherebyoccurrence of a leakage or the like can be prevented.

With this ferroelectric memory device, the unselected wordline potentialsupply lines may include: a variable unselected wordline potentialsupply line which supplies a variable unselected wordline potential tothe sub-wordlines; and a fixed unselected wordline potential supply linewhich supplies a fixed unselected wordline potential to thesub-wordlines, and the unselected bitline potential supply lines mayinclude: a variable unselected bitline potential supply line whichsupplies a variable unselected bitline potential to the sub-bitlines;and a fixed unselected bitline potential supply line which supplies afixed unselected bitline potential to the sub-bitlines. Theferroelectric memory device may further include: a plurality ofunselected wordline potential select switches which are provided for thesector regions arranged in the column direction and select one of thevariable and fixed unselected wordline potential supply lines; and aplurality of unselected bitline potential select switches which areprovided for the sector regions arranged in the Tow direction and selectone of the variable and fixed unselected bitline potential supply lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a planar layout of a ferroelectric memory device according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram describing four sector regions shown inFIG. 1 and peripheral circuits for the sector regions.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a part of a row or column decoderaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a hysteresis phenomenon of a ferroelectric.

FIG. 5A shows a drive waveform according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5B shows another drive waveform according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5C shows a further drive waveform according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5D shows a still further drive waveform according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5E shows a yet further drive waveform according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5F shows an even firmer drive waveform according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows the position of a selected sector according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B shows the switching state in the selected sector shown in FIG.6A.

FIG. 7A shows the positions of unselected sectors located in the samerow as the selected sector shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7B shows the switching state in the unselected sector shown in FIG.7A.

FIG. 8A shows the positions of unselected sectors located in the samecolumn as the selected sector shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 8B shows the switching state in the unselected sector shown in FIG.8A.

FIG. 9A shows the positions of unselected sectors located in rows andcolumns differing from the selected sector shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 9B shows the switching state in the unselected sector shown in FIG.9A.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modification in which aplurality of main-wordlines and a plurality of main-bitlines areprovided in one sector region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

1. Entire Configuration

FIG. 1 shows a planar layout of a ferroelectric memory device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. A memory cell array region 10shown in FIG. 1 is divided into a plurality of sectors regions 12 in arow direction A and a column direction B. A row decoder 14 is disposedon one end of the memory cell array region 10 in the row direction A,for example. A column decoder 16 is disposed on one end of the memorycell array region 10 in the column direction B, for example

FIG. 2 shows four sector regions 12 (12A to 12D) which are a part oftile memory cell array region 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows anexample in which the sector region 12 is simplified to the greatestextent In FIG. 2, one main-wordline MWL and a plurality of (two, forexample) sub-wordlines SWL provided for the main-wordline MWL aredisposed in one sector region 12. One main-bitline MBL and a pluralityof (two, for example) sub-bitlines SBL provided for the main-bitline MBLare disposed in one sector region 12.

A memory cell 50 consisting of a ferroelectric capacitor is disposed atthe intersecting point of the sub-wordline SWL and the sub-bitline SBL.

The sector regions 12A and 12B in one row are called a row sector 13A,and the sector regions 12C and 12D in the other row are called a rowsector 13B. The sector regions 12A and 12C in one column are called acolumn sector 13C, and the sector regions 12B and 12D in the othercolumn are called a column sector 13D.

Wordline driver sections 100A and 100B and row sector select circuits110A and 110B are respectively provided corresponding to the row sectors13A and 13B. Bitline driver sections 120A and 120B and column sectorselect circuits 130A and 130B are respectively provided corresponding tothe column sectors 13C and 13D.

2. Memory Cell Array Region

The memory cell array region 10 is described below. In the presentembodiment, the wordline WL and the bitline BL are hierarchized.Specifically, the sub-wordlines SWL1A1 and SWL2A1 are provided for themain-wordline MWL1 in the sector region 12A, for example. Thesub-bitlines SBL1A1 and SBL2A1 are provided for the main-bitline MBLA inthe sector region 12A. This also applies to other sector regions 12B to12D.

In the sector region 12A, first sub-wordline select switches 60 and 61,which are independently driven, are respectively provided between themain-wordline MWL1 and one end of the sub-wordlines SWL1A1 and SWL2A1provided for the main-wordline MWL1. A fixed unselected wordlinepotential supply line 70 which supplies a fixed unselected wordlinepotential to the sub-wordlines SWL1A1 and SWL2A1, and a variableunselected wordline potential supply line 72 which supplies a variableunselected wordline potential to the sub-wordlines SWL1A1 and SWL2A1 areprovided. A first select switch 64 (unselected wordline potential selectswitch), which selects one of the fixed and variable unselected wordlinepotential lines 70 and 72, is provided.

Second sub-wordline select switches 62 and 63 are respectively providedbetween the other end of the sub-wordlines SWL1A1 and SWL2A1 and thefirst select switch 64. During the normal drive period, the first andsecond sub-wordline select switches 60 and 62 (or 61 and 63) connectedwith either end of one sub-wordline SWL are driven complementarily sothat one of the first and second sub-wordline select switches is tiredon while the other is turned off. Therefore, the sub-wordline SWL1A1 isconnected with the main-wordline MWL1 when the first sub-wordline selectswitch 60 is turned on, and connected with the fixed unselected wordlinepotential supply line 70 or the variable unselected wordline potentialsupply line 72 through the first select switch 64 when the secondsub-wordline select switch 62 is turned on. This prevents thesub-wordline SWL1A1 from floating.

In the sector region 12A, first sub-bitline select switches 80 and 81,which are independently driven, are respectively provided between themain-bitline MBLA and one end of the sub-bitlines SBL1A1 and SBL2A1provided for the main-bitline MBLA. A fixed unselected bitline potentialsupply line 90 which supplies a fixed unselected bitline potential tothe sub-bitlines SBL1A1 and SBL2A1, and a variable unselected bitlinepotential supply line 92 which supplies a variable unselected bitlinepotential to the sub-bitlines SBL1A1 and SBL2A1 are provided. A secondselect switch 84 (unselected bitline potential select switch), whichselects one of the fixed and variable unselected bitline potential lines90 and 92, is provided.

Second sub-bitline select switches 82 and 83 are respectively providedbetween the other end of the sub-bitlines SBL1A1 and SBL2A1 and thesecond select switch 84. During the normal drive period, the first andsecond sub-bitline select switches 80 and 82 (or 81 and 83) connectedwith either end of one sub-bitline SBL are driven complementarily sothat one of the first and second sub-bitline select switches is turnedon while the other is turned off. Therefore, the sub-bitline SBL1A1 isconnected with the main-bitline MBLA when the first sub-bitline selectswitch 80 is turned on, and connected with the fixed unselected bitlinepotential supply line 90 or the variable unselected bitline potentialsupply line 92 through the second select switch 84 when the secondsub-bitline select switch 82 is turned on This prevents the sub-bitlineSBL1A1 from floating.

3. Driver Circuit

FIG. 3 shows circuits which make up a part of the wordline driversection 100A and the row sector select circuit 110A shown in FIG. 2. Asshown in FIG. 3, the row sector select circuit 110A includes a decodercircuit 111 which decodes signals from a plurality of address signallines ADL. The wordline driver section 100A includes an N-typetransistor N1 connected with a selected wordline potential supply line102, and an N-type transistor N2 connected with an unselected wordlinepotential supply line 104. Drains of the transistors N1 and N2 areconnected with the main-wordline MBL.

The transistors N1 and N2 are complementarily driven by the decodercircuit 111, whereby a selected wordline potential or an unselectedwordline potential is supplied to the main-wordline MWL. The bitlinedriver section and the column sector select circuit are formed in thesame manner as the wordline driver section and the row sector selectcircuit.

A voltage Vpp higher than a power supply voltage Vcc is supplied togates of the transistors N1 and N2 in order to reduce a voltage loss inthe transistors N1 and N2. Therefore, the size of the transistors N1 andN2 is increased. However, it suffices that one wordline driver sectionbe provided for each of the row sectors 13A and 13B as shown in FIG. 2.Therefore, an increase in the integration of the memory device is nothindered.

The row sector select circuits 110A and 110B and the column sectorselect circuits 130A and 130B control switching of the switches 60 to 64and 80 to 84 based on the address signals.

4. Principle of Ferroelectric Capacitor

A ferroelectric memory device is a memory device which utilizes twopolarization states which appear in the hysteresis phenomenon of theferroelectric capacitor 50 as one bit.

The hysteresis phenomenon is described below. FIG. 4 shows thecorrelation between the voltage applied to the ferroelectric and thepolarization of the ferroelectric. In FIG. 4, the vertical axis Pindicates the polarization of the ferroelectric, and the horizontal axisV indicates the voltage applied to the ferroelectric. The curve shown inFIG. 4 shows characteristics in which the polarization state of theferroelectric capacitor 50 cycles corresponding to the change in thevoltage applied to the ferroelectric capacitor 50. For example, when aselect voltage Vs is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor 50 which isin a state at a point B (memory state of “0”) or in a state at a point D(memory state of “1”), the polarization state transitions to a point A(read “0” or “1” or write “0”). When the applied voltage is changed to 0V, the polarization state transitions to the point B. Specifically, thepolarization state which is originally at the point D also transitionsto the point B through the point A. When a select voltage −Vs is appliedto the ferroelectric capacitor 50, the polarization state transitions toa point C (write “1” or rewrite). When the applied voltage is changed to0 V, the polarization state transitions to the point D (memory state of“1”).

An unselect voltage ±Vs/3 is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor 50in the polarization state at the point B or D. When the applied voltageis changed to 0 V, the polarization state returns to the original pointB or D. This shows that the memory state is maintained even if theunselect voltage ±Vs/3 is applied to the unselected ferroelectriccapacitors 50 during the select period of one ferroelectric capacitor50.

In order to realize the above-described drive operation, six types ofpotentials consisting of a selected wordline potential, a variableunselected wordline potential, a selected bitline potential, a variableunselected bitline potential, a fixed unselected wordline potential, anda fixed unselected bitline potential are generated for the sub-wordlineSWL and the sub-bitline SBL, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5F.

The selected wordline potential shown in FIG. 5A, the unselectedwordline potential shown in FIG. 5B, or the fixed unselected wordlinepotential shown in FIG. 5E is supplied to the main-wordline MWL shown inFIG. 2. The fixed unselected wordline potential supply line 70 is fixedat the fixed unselected wordline potential shown in FIG. 5E. Thevariable unselected wordline potential shown in FIG. 5B is supplied tothe variable unselected wordline potential supply line 72. The selectedbitline potential shown in FIG. 5C, the unselected bitline potentialshown in FIG. 5D, or the fixed unselected bitline potential shown inFIG. 5F is supplied to the main-bitline MBL shown in FIG. 2. The fixedunselected bitline potential supply line 90 is fixed at the fixedunselected bitline potential shown in FIG. 5F. The variable unselectedbitline potential shown in FIG. 5D is supplied to the variableunselected bitline potential supply line 92.

5. Description of Operation and Effect

FIG. 6B shows the switching state in the selected sector 12 located at aposition shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B shows a state in which the selectedmemory cell 50 in the selected sector 12 is driven.

The switches 60 to 64 and 80 to 84 shown in FIG. 6B are formed by usingN-type transistors. The signal potentials of gate lines of the switches60 to 64 and 80 to 84 are set as shown in FIG. 6B. Therefore, theswitches 60, 63, 80, and 83 to which a potential “H” is applied at thegate are turned on, and the switches 61, 62,81, and 82 to which apotential “L” is applied at the gate are turned off. The first selectswitch 64 selects the variable unselected wordline potential supply line72, and the second select switch 84 selects the variable unselectedbitline potential supply line 92.

This causes the selected wordline potential shown in FIG. 5A and theunselected wordline potential shown in FIG. 5C to be applied to only theselected memory cell 50 shown in FIG. 6B. Therefore, +Vs can be appliedwhen writing “0” (or reading), and −Vs can be applied when writing “1”(or rewriting). Since the voltage applied to the unselected memory cellsis ±Vs/3 at the maximum, the memory state can be maintained.

Two unselected sectors 12 shown in FIG. 7A are located in the same rowas the selected sector 12 shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 7B shows a state inwhich the unselected memory cells 50 in one of the unselected sectors 12shown in FIG. 7A are driven.

In FIG. 7B, the main-wordline MWL1 corresponding to the selected memorycell 12 shown in FIG. 6B is set at the selected wordline potential shownin FIG. 5A. In FIG. 7B, the first sub-wordline select switches 60 and 61connected with the main-wordline MWL1 are turned off. Therefore, thesecond sub-wordline select switches 62 and 63 are turned off), and thefixed unselected wordline potential supply line 70 set at a potential2(Vs/3) is selected by the first select switch 64, as shown in FIG. 7B.

This causes the potential 2(Vs/3) to be supplied to the sub-wordlinesSWL1A and SWL2A in the sector region 12 shown in FIG. 71.

It is necessary to prevent occurrence of disturbance by applying 0 V toall the unselected memory cells 50 in the unselected sector 12. Theunselected main-bitline MBLA shown in FIG. 7B is set at the fixedunselected bitline potential (Vs/3) shown in FIG. 5F, which is the sameas the potential supplied to the sub-wordlines SWL1A and SWL2A.Therefore, the fixed potential (Vs/3) is supplied to the sub-bitlineSBL1A by turning on the switch 80. In order to supply the fixedpotential (Vs/3) to the other sub-bitline SBL2A, the fixed unselectedbitline potential supply line 90 and the sub-bitline SBL2A are connectedthrough the switches 83 and 84.

This causes 0 V to be applied to all the unselected memory cells 50 inthe unselected sector 12, whereby occurrence of disturbance isprevented.

Two unselected sectors 12 shown in FIG. 8A are located in the samecolumn as the selected sector 12 shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 8B shows a statein which the unselected memory cells 50 in one of the unselected sectors12 shown in FIG. 8A are driven.

In FIG. 8B, the main-bitline MBLA corresponding to the selected memorycell 12 shown in FIG. 6B is set at the selected bitline potential shownin FIG. 5C. In FIG. 8B, the first sub-bitline select switches 80 and 81connected with the main-bitline MBLA are turned off. Therefore, thesecond sub-bitline select switches 82 and 83 are turned on, and thefixed unselected bitline potential supply line 90 set at a potential2(Vs/3) is selected by the second select switch 84, as shown in FIG. 8B.

This causes the potential 2(Vs/3) to be supplied to the sub-bitlinesSBL1A and SBL2A in the sector region 12 shown in FIG. 8B.

In FIG. 8B, it is necessary to prevent occurrence of disturbance byapplying 0 V to all the unselected memory cells 50 in the unselectedsector 12. The unselected main-wordline MWL1 shown in FIG. 8B is set atthe fixed unselected wordline potential (Vs/3) shown in FIG. 5E, whichis the same as the potential supplied to the sub-bitlines SBL1A andSBL2A. Therefore, the fixed potential (Vs/3) is supplied to thesub-wordline SWL11 by turning on the switch 60. In order to supply thefixed potential (Vs/3) to the other sub-wordline SWL21, the fixedunselected wordline potential supply line 70 and the sub-wordline SWL21are connected through the switches 63 and 64.

This causes 0 V to be applied to all the unselected memory cells 50 inthe unselected sector 12 shown in FIG. 8B, whereby occurrence ofdisturbance is prevented.

Four unselected sectors 12 shown in FIG. 9A are located in the rows andcolumns differing from the selected sector 12 shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 9Bshows a state in which the unselected memory cells 50 in one of theunselected sectors 12 shown in FIG. 9A are driven

In the unselected sector 12 shown in FIG. 9B, it is necessary to preventoccurrence of disturbance by applying 0 V to all the unselected memorycells 50 in the unselected sector 12. In the example shown in FIG. 9B, 0V is applied to all the unselected memory cells 50 by using the fixedunselected wordline potential supply line 70 and the fixed unselectedbitline potential supply line 90.

The fixed unselected wordline potential supply line 70 and the fixedunselected bitline potential supply line 90 are respectively selected bythe first and second select switches 64 and 84, and the secondsub-wordline select switches 62 and 63 and the second sub-bitline selectswitches 82 and 83 are turned on. The first sub-wordline select switches60 and 61 and the first sub-bitline select switches 80 and 81 are turnedoff.

Even if the switching state is the reverse of the above-describedswitching state, occurrence of distance can also be prevented byapplying 0 V to all the unselected cells 50 in the unselected sector 12shown in FIG. 9B. This is because the fixed unselected wordlinepotential (Vs/3) shown in FIG. 5E is supplied to the main-wordline MWL1,and the fixed unselected bitline potential (Vs/3) shown in FIG. 5F issupplied to the main-bitline MBLA.

The drive operation in the selected sector including the selected memorycell 50 shown in FIG. 6A and the drive operation in the unselectedsector are described above. A period in which none of the sector regions12 is selected is called a standby period.

In the standby period, the state of the sector region 12 shown in FIG.9B is realized in all the sector regions. Specifically, the firstsub-bitline select switches 80 and 81 and the first sub-wordline selectswitches 60 and 61 are turned off, and the second sub-bitline selectswitches 82 and 83 and the second sub-wordline select switches 62 and 63are turned on in all the sector regions 12. This causes 0 V to beapplied to all the memory cells in all the sector regions, wherebyoccurrence of disturbance can be prevented.

During inspection, the first sub-bitline select switches 80 and 81 andthe first sub-wordline select switches 60 and 61 may be turned on, andthe second sub-bitline select switches 82 and 83 and the secondsub-wordline select switches 62 and 63 may be turned off in the sectorregion 12 which is the target of inspection. This enables a logicalvalue “0” or “1” to be written into all the memory cells at the sametime during inspection.

In the case where a defect is found in one sector region afterinspection, all the first and second sub-wordline select switches 60 to63 and 80 to 83 in the defective sector region may be turned off. Thiscauses the defective sector region to be in a high impedance state,whereby a signal is not input and a leakage does not occur.

The first and second sub-bitline select switches and the first andsecond sub-wordline select switches may be turned off during a potentialchange transition period immediately after turning the power on. Thisprevents an unexpected excessive voltage from being applied to thememory cells.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.Various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit andscope of the present invention.

The above-described embodiment illustrates an example in which thesector region is simplified for convenience of illustration. A pluralityof main-wordlines and a plurality of main-bitlines are disposed in theactual sector region 12.

FIG. 10 shows a minimum unit of the sector region. FIG. 10 shows twomain-wordlines MWL1 and MWL2 and sub-wordlines SWL11 and SWL21 andsub-wordlines SWL12 and SWL22 provided for the main-wordlines MWL1 andMWL2, respectively. FIG. 10 also shows two main-bitlines MBLA and MBLBand sub-bitlines SBL1A and SBL2A and sub-bitlines SBL1B and SBL2Bprovided for the main-bitlines MBLA and MBLB, respectively.

1. A ferroelectric memory device comprising: a memory cell array regiondivided into a plurality of sector regions in row and column directions;a plurality of main-wordlines disposed in the memory cell array regionin parallel along the row direction; a plurality of main-bitlinesdisposed in the memory cell array region in parallel along the columndirection; a plurality of sub-wordlines, each of the sub-wordlines beingprovided for one of the main-wordlines in one of the sector regions; aplurality of sub-bitlines, each of the sub-bitlines being provided forone of the main-bitlines in one of the sector regions; a plurality offerroelectric memory cells, each of the ferroelectric memory cells beingdisposed at an intersecting point of one of the sub-wordlines providedfor one of the main-wordlines and one of the sub-bitlines provided forone of the main-bitlines; a plurality of first sub-wordline selectswitches, each of the first sub-wordline select switches being disposedbetween one of the main-wordlines and one end of one of thesub-wordlines provided for the one main-wordline and being drivenindependently at least in one of the sector regions; a plurality offirst sub-bitline select switches, each of the first sub-bitline selectswitches being disposed between one of the main-bitlines and one end ofone of the sub-bitlines provided for the one main-bitline and beingdriven independently at least in one of the sector regions; at least oneunselected wordline potential supply line which supplies an unselectedwordline potential to the sub-wordlines; at least one unselected bitlinepotential supply line which supplies an unselected bitline potential tothe sub-bitlines; a plurality of second sub-wordline select switches,each of the second sub-wordline select switches being disposed betweenthe other end of one of the sub-wordlines and the unselected wordlinepotential supply line and being driven independently at least in one ofthe sector regions; and a plurality of second sub-bitline selectswitches, each of the second sub-bitline select switches being disposedbetween the other end of one of the sub-bitlines and the unselectedbitline potential supply line and being driven independently at least inone of the sector regions.
 2. The ferroelectric memory device as definedin claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of first sector selectsections, each of the first sector select sections being provided forthe sector regions arranged along the column direction; and a pluralityof second sector select sections, each of the second sector selectsections being provided for the sector regions arranged along the rowdirection; wherein when a selected first sector select section isselected from among the plurality of first sector select sections and aselected second sector select section is selected from among theplurality of second sector select sections, the selected first sectorselect section and the selected second sector select section turn on andturn off the first and second sub-wordline select switches and the firstand second sub-bitline select switches so that a select voltage isapplied to a selected memory cell in a selected sector region throughone of the main-wordlines and one of the main-bitlines, and turn on andturn off the first and second sub-wordline select switches and the firstand second sub-bitline select switches so that an unselect voltage isapplied to an unselected memory cell in the selected sector regionthrough at least one of the unselected wordline potential supply lineand the unselected bitline potential supply line, the selected memorycell and the un selected memory cell being memory cells among theplurality of the ferroelectric memory cells, and the selected sectorregion being selected from among the plurality of the sector regions. 3.The ferroelectric memory device as defined in claim 2, wherein theselected first sector select section turns on one of the firstsub-wordline select switches that is connected with one of thesub-wordlines provided for the selected memory cell and turns off restof the first sub-wordline select switches in the selected sector region,and turns on one of the second sub-wordline select switches that isconnected with one of the sub-wordlines provided for the selected memorycell and turns off rest of the second sub-wordline select switches inthe selected sector region, and wherein the selected second sectorselect section turns on one of the first sub-bitline select switchesthat is connected with one of the sub-bitlines provided for the selectedmemory cell and turns off rest of the first sub-bitline select switchesin the selected sector region, and turns on one of the secondsub-bitline select switches that is connected with one of thesub-bitlines provided for the selected memory cell and turns off rest ofthe second sub-bitline select switches in the selected sector region. 4.The ferroelectric memory device as defined in claim 2, wherein one ofthe first sector select sections provided for an unselected sectorregion that shares one of the main-wordlines with the selected sectorregion turns off the first sub-wordline select switches and turns on thesecond sub-wordline select switches, the unselected sector region beinga sector region other than the selected sector regions among theplurality of the sector regions.
 5. The ferroelectric memory device asdefined in claim 2, wherein one of the second sector select sectionsprovided for an unselected sector region that shares one of themain-bitlines with the selected sector region turns off the firstsub-bitline select switches and turns on the second sub-bitline selectswitches, the unselected sector region being a sector region other thanthe selected sector regions among the plurality of the sector regions.6. The ferroelectric memory device as defined in claim 2, wherein thefirst sector select section provided for an unselected sector regionthat does not share one of the main-wordlines and one of themain-bitlines with the selected sector region turns off the firstsub-wordline select switches and turns on the second sub-wordline selectswitches, the unselected sector region being a sector region other thanthe selected sector region among the plurality of sector regions, andwherein the second sector select section provided for an unselectedsector region that docs not share one of the main-wordlines and one ofthe main-bitlines with the selected sector region turns off the firstsub-bitline select switches and turns on the second sub-bitline selectswitches, the unselected sector region being a sector region other thanthe selected sector region among the plurality of sector regions.
 7. Theferroelectric memory device as defined in claim 4, wherein potentials ofthe sub-wordlines and the sub-bitlines connected with all of theunselected memory cells in the unselected sector region aresubstantially the same.
 8. The ferroelectric memory device as defined inclaim 1, wherein, during a standby period in which none of the sectorregions are selected, the first sub-bitline select switches and thefirst sub-wordline select switches arc turned off, and the secondsub-bitline select switches and the second sub-wordline select switchesare turned on in all of the sector regions.
 9. The ferroelectric memorydevice as defined in claim 8, wherein potentials of the unselectedwordline potential supply line and the unselected bitline potentialsupply line are substantially the same during the standby period. 10.The ferroelectric memory device as defined in claim 1, wherein, duringan inspection period, the first sub-bitline select switches and the fitsub-wordline select switches are turned on, and the second sub-bitlineselect switches and the second sub-wordline select switches are turnedoff in a sector region that is a target of inspection among theplurality of the sector regions.
 11. The ferroelectric memory device asdefined in claim 1, wherein the first sub-bitline select switches, thefirst sub-wordline select switches, the second sub-bitline selectswitches, and the second sub-wordline select switches are turned off ina defective sector region among the plurality of the sector regions. 12.The ferroelectric memory device as defied in claim 1, wherein theunselected wordline potential supply lines include a variable unselectedwordline potential supply line which supplies a variable unselectedwordline potential to the sub-wordlines, and a fixed unselected wordlinepotential supply line which supplies a fixed unselected wordlinepotential to the sub-wordlines, wherein the unselected bitline potentialsupply lines include a variable unselected bitline potential supply linewhich supplies a variable unselected bitline potential to thesub-bitlines, and a fixed unselected bitline potential supply line whichsupplies a fixed unselected bitline potential to the sub-bitlines, andwherein the ferroelectric memory device further includes: a plurality ofunselected wordline potential select switches which are provided for thesector regions arranged in the column direction and select one of thevariable and fixed unselected wordline potential supply lines; and aplurality of unselected bitline potential select switches which areprovided for the sector regions arranged in the row direction and selectone of the variable and fixed unselected bitline potential supply lines.13. The ferroelectric memory device as defined in claim 2, wherein theunselected wordline potential supply lines includes a variableunselected wordline potential supply line which supplies a variableunselected wordline potential to the sub-wordlines, and a fixedunselected wordline potential supply line which supplies a fixedunselected wordline potential to the sub-wordlines, wherein theunselected bitline potential supply lines includes a variable unselectedbitline potential supply line which supplies a variable unselectedbitline potential to the sub-bitlines, and a fixed unselected bitlinepotential supply line which supplies a fixed unselected bitlinepotential to the sub-bitlines, and wherein the ferroelectric memorydevice further includes: a plurality of unselected wordline potentialselect switches which are provided for the sector regions arranged inthe column direction and select one of the variable and fixed unselectedwordline potential supply lines; and a plurality of unselected bitlinepotential select switches which are provided for the sector regionsarranged in the row direction and select one of the variable and fixedunselected bitline potential supply lines.
 14. The ferroelectric memorydevice as defined in claim 13, wherein the selected first sector selectsection turns on one of the first sub-wordline select switches that isconnected with one of the sub-wordlines provided for the selected memorycell and turns off rest of the first sub-wordline select switches in theselected sector region, and turns on one of the second sub-wordlineselect switches that is connected with one of the sub-wordlines providedfor the selected memory cell and turns off rest of the secondsub-wordline select switches in the selected sector region, and thevariable unselected bitline potential supply line is selected by one ofthe unselected bitline potential select switches provided for theselected sector region, and wherein the selected second sector selectsection turns on one of the first sub-bitline select switches that isconnected with one of the sub-bitlines provided for the selected memorycell and turns off rest of the first sub-bitline select switches in theselected sector region, and turns on one of the second sub-bitlineselect switches that is connected with one of the sub-bitlines providedfor the selected memory cell and turns off rest of the secondsub-bitline select switches in the selected sector region, and thevariable unselected wordline potential supply line is selected by one ofthe unselected wordline potential select switches provided for theselected sector region.
 15. The ferroelectric memory device as definedin claim 13, wherein one of the first sector select sections providedfor an unselected sector region that shares one of the main-wordlineswith the selected sector region turns off the first sub-wordline selectswitches and turns on the second sub-wordline select switches, theunselected sector region being a sector region other than the selectedsector regions among the plurality of the sector regions, and the fixedunselected bitline potential supply line is selected by one of theunselected bitline potential select switches provided for the unselectedsector region that shares one of the main-wordlines with the selectedsector region.
 16. The ferroelectric memory device as defined in claim13, wherein one of the second sector select sections provided for anunselected sector region that shares one of the main-bitlines with theselected sector region turns off the first sub-bitline select switchesand turns on the second sub-bitline select switches, the unselectedsector region being a sector region other than the selected sectorregions among the plurality of the sector regions, and the fixedunselected wordline potential supply line is selected by one of theunselected wordline potential select switches provided for theunselected sector region that shares one of the main-bitlines with theselected sector region.
 17. The ferroelectric memory device as definedin claim 13, wherein the first sector select section provided for anunselected sector region that does not share one of the main-wordlinesand one of the main-bitlines with the selected sector region turns offthe first sub-wordline select switches and turns on the secondsub-wordline select switches, the unselected sector region being asector region other than the selected sector region among the pluralityof sector regions, and the fixed unselected bitline potential supplyline is selected by one of the unselected bitline potential selectswitches provided for the unselected sector region that does not shareone of the main-wordlines and one of the main-bitlines with the selectedsector region, and wherein the second sector select section provided forthe unselected sector region that does not share one of themain-wordlines and one of the main-bitlines with the selected sectorregion turns off the first sub-bitline select switches and turns on thesecond sub-bitline select switches, and the fixed unselected wordlinepotential supply line is selected by one of the unselected wordlinepotential select switches provided for the unselected sector region thatdoes not share one of the main-wordlines and one of the main-bitlineswith the selected sector region.